Arsenal win belated opener
Friday, September 28, 2007
Article summary
UEFA Women's Cup holders Arsenal LFC made a belated start to the season last night as they won their opening FA Women's Premier League game 6-2 at Watford LFC.
Article body
UEFA Women's Cup holders Arsenal LFC made a belated start to the season last night when they won their opening FA Women's Premier League game 6-2 at Watford LFC.
World Cup break
Though they played two friendlies in August, beating Sheffield FC 12-0 and Wales 6-0, Arsenal had been out of action until this week with nine players away at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, where England reached the quarter-finals. Indeed, only six of the 12 top-flight teams had played this season before last night for that reason, with Arsenal's fellow European contenders Everton LFC among those in abeyance. Similar arrangements have been in place in Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
Sanderson hat-trick
That had allowed newly-promoted Watford to surge up to third place, but six minutes into their fixture with Arsenal, last season's leading scorer Lianne Sanderson put the visitors ahead. Helen Lander equalised but Katie Chapman and Sanderson responded. Though Lander pulled one back before half-time, in the second period Karen Carney made it 4-2, Sanderson completed her hat-trick, and Kelly Smith – like all the other Arsenal scorers a member of the England squad in China – converted a penalty in the 64th minute. Bristol Academy WFC remain top of the league with 13 points from six games.
European games
Arsenal, who won all 22 of their league games last term to clinch a third straight title as part of a grand slam of national and continental honours in an unbeaten campaign, play next at Liverpool LFC on Sunday. Four days after that Everton welcome their neighbours to Crosby in their season opener. The Merseyside club then continue their first European campaign in second qualifying round Group B3 against Belgian hosts KFC Rapide Wezemaal, two-time champions 1. FFC Frankfurt and Valur Reykjavík from 11-16 October. Arsenal, given a bye to this stage, are hosting Group B1 against Alma KTZH, SV Neulengbach and ASD CF Bardolino Verona at the same time and entry to their games at Boreham Wood FC and Saint Albans City FC will be free.
